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Security sector reform develops effective and accountable security institutions based on international norms of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. Stimson experts provide recommendations to strengthen critical security institutions to help ensure the security of a state and its population.

Shane Mason is a Research Associate in Stimson's South Asia program. Before Stimson, Shane was a Scoville Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he worked in the Nuclear Policy Program.

India and Pakistan exchange lists of their nuclear installations, as part of an agreement banning the countries from attacking each other's nuclear facilities. The exchange has occurred on the first day of each year since 1992. Both countries also exchange lists of the other country's nationals lodged in their jails. [Dawn, The Hindu]

January 17

Military officials from Pakistan and India agree to further strengthen the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC)during a brigadier-level flag meeting held at the Rawalakot-Poonch crossing point at the LoC. [Express Tribune]

January 18

Commerce Ministers agree to establish reciprocal Non-Discriminatory Market Access (NDMA).The ministers also agreed to open the Wagah-Attari border for trade at all times of the year. [The Hindu]

February 12

Trade across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir resumes after being suspended for a month. [Express Tribune]

March 4

The Joint Working Group on Cross-Line of Control CBMs meets in New Delhi for the first time in eighteen months. [The Diplomat]

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attends Prime Minister Modi's swearing-in ceremony. Modi invited Sharif to his inaguaration along with the heads of all other SAARC countries. [Dawn, The Hindu]

May 27

Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Modi meet the day after Modi's inaugaration. Both promise to move immediately to normalize trade relations and agree on a future meeting of both countries' foreign ministers. [Hindustan Times, The News]

May 28

India releases 32 Pakistani fishermen, in reciprocation of Pakistan's release of prisoners three days before. [The Hindu, The Nation]

July 1

India and Pakistan exchange lists of the other country's nationals lodged in their jails. Prisoner lists are required to be exchanged bi-annually on January 1 and July 1, according to an agreement signed in 2008. [The News, The Indian Express]

Pakistan releases 57 Indian fishing boats as a goodwill gesture, following a two-day visit by an Indian delegation to Karachi to discuss the matter. [The Hindu, The Express Tribune]

August 8

Pakistan hands back an Indian Border Security Forces soldier who was accidentally swept across a river into Pakistani territory two days before. The soldier reported that his stay in Pakistan was comfortable and he was treated well. [The Times of India, Pakistan Today]

August 15

Indian and Chinese armed forces hold a ceremonial meeting along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in conjunction with Indian independence day celebrations. Both sides reiterate their commitment to upholding agreements signed by the two countries as well as their commitment to strengthening peace along the LAC. [The Economic Times]

2013

January 1

India and Pakistan exchange lists of their nuclear installations, as part of an agreement banning the countries from attacking each other's nuclear facilities. The exchange has occured on the first day of each year since 1992 [Express Tribune]. Both countries also exchange lists of prisoners in each others' custody [The Nation].

January 3

Chief Minister of Gujarat Province, Nardendra Modi, invites a delegation from the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry to attend the sixth Vibrant Gujarat Investor Summit. [Times of India]

January 11

Skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani troops across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir force all cross border trade and travel to stop. [The Hindu]

January 15

The Indian government begins a new visa regime for Pakistani passport holders 65 and over, but suspends it after a few hours due to "technichal issues". [Dawn, Express Tribune]

January 16

Directors General of Military Operations in India and Pakistan agree to de-escalate the situation along the Line of Control. Additionally, Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar offers to talk with her Pakistani counterpart in a separate attempt to ease tension. [The Hindu, Dawn, NDTV]

January 22

Pakistani Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, announces that all Indian fishermen will soon be relased from Pakistani jails. [The Hindu,Express Tribune]

March 9

Pakistani Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, visits the Indian city of Jaipur. [Dawn, Times of India]

Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari, who is also known as Abu Jundal, is apprehended by officials in Saudi Arabia and flown to India, where his apprehension is reported by the Indian media. [More...]

June 27

Pakistan releases Surjeet Singh, an Indian man captured in Pakistan's eastern border region nearly 30 years ago. Singh was initially sentenced to death in 1985, but this was commuted to life in prison in 1989. President Asif Ali Zardari approved his release as a goodwill gesture. [More: AFP, ET]

June 27

Pakistan released over 300 Indian fishermen who were arrested over the past several months for straying over a murky border in the salt marsh of Sir Creek [More: Guardian, Dawn]

June 29

Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram announces that Ansari was present in the control room in Pakistan during the Mumbai attacks [Times of India, Dawn]

July 1

Pakistan and India exchange lists of prisoners in each others' custody [Dawn, The News]

August 1

The Indian government allows for Pakistani citizens and companies to invest in India in all areas except for defense, space, and atomic energy. This was part of a roadmap drawn up by trade ministers from Pakistan and India. [The Hindu]

August 15

Pakistan releases 55 Indian fishermen as a 'goodwill' gesture to mark Independence day in India [Dawn]

September 8

India and Pakistan sign visa agreement easing travel restrictions for businessmen and introducing a new category of group tourism. The Foreign Ministers also expanded cross-LoC Confidence-Building Measures to allow travel for tourism and pilgrimage. [The Hindu, The News]

September 10

Pakistan releases 48 Indian fishermen, pledges to release another 32, as a goodwill gesture. [The News, The Hindu]

India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear facilities [More...]. Pakistan also gives India a list of Indians lodged in Pakistani jails, as per an agreement signed in 2008. [More ...]

Pakistani President Zardari remitted the sentence of Indian convict Gopal Das [More...]

March 28-29

India and Pakistan's home secretaries meet in New Delhi. Both sides commit to fight terrorism and provide information on on-going terrorism investigations [More ...]. India also belatedly hands over its list of Pakistanis lodged in Indian jails, which was due on January 1 [More ...]

March 30

India and Pakistan's prime ministers meet for the semi-finals of the 2011 Cricket World Cup in New Delhi. [More...]

China and India resumed high-level defense exchanges, agreed to hold the first meeting of a strategic and economic dialogue mechanism, and annouced the start of the "Year of China-India Exchange" program, which will allow 500 young Indians to come to China while China supports Chinese language teaching in Indian middle and high schools. [More...]

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announces his intention to move toward a Preferential Trade Agreement with Pakistan under SAFTA that will lead to zero customs duty on all traded goods by 2016. [More...]

India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear facilities. Pakistan also gives India a list of Indians lodged in Pakistani jails; however India for the third time in a row fails to provide an equivalent list to Pakistan. [More...]

July 1

India and Pakistan exchange lists of their nationals lodged in each other's jails, as per an agreement signed in 2008. This is the first time that India has participated in the exchange of lists since it suspended participation in the CBM following the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. [More ...]

For the 18th consecutive year, India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear facilities (see entry for December 31, 1988). Pakistan also hands over a list of Indians held in Pakistani prisons, while India seeks more time to compile its list of Pakistanis in Indian prisons (see entry for May 21, 2008). [More...]

June 15

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agree to establish a hotline between the Prime Ministers of India and China. [More...]

July 1

Pakistan gives India a list of Indians held in Pakistani prisons, however India fails to hand
over its list of Pakistanis lodged in Indian prisons (see entry for May 21, 2008). [More...]

July 16

The Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan, meeting on the sidelines of a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Egypt, issue a joint statement "charting the way forward in India - Pakistan relations." [More...]

2008

February 5

India and Pakistan sign an agreement allow regular contact between India's military-funded Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA) and Pakistan's state-run Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS). The purpose is to build channels of communication at the level of scholars. [More...]

February 26

The first meeting of a joint Indo-Pak judicial committee of eight retired senior judges from Pakistan and India was held to look into the condition of prisoners jailed in both countries, seek release of those whose sentences have been served, and to discuss all related matters, including future procedures. [More...]

March 3

Kashmir Singh, an Indian national in prison in Pakistan for 35 years on charges of spying for India and sentenced to death, is released. [More...]

March 19

A Pakistani national arrested in India over two years ago on charges of spying and possessing fake currency was released and handed over to Pakistani authorities at the Wagah land border after being acquitted by a court. [More...]

March 31

Pakistan and India exchange lists of prisoners lodged in each other's jails, as a means of
expediting the release of prisoners who have completed their sentences. [More ...]

April 4

"Khuda Kay Liye" or "In the Name of God" becomes the first Pakistani film in four decades to be approved for release in Indian theaters. [More...]

April 24

India joins a signed a framework agreement with Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan on a $7.6 billion gas pipeline project. The line will be 1,680-km Turkemenistan -Afghanistan- Pakistan -India (TAPI), supply 3.2 billion cubic feet per day (90 MMSCMD) and gas flows are expected from 2015. Pakistan and India have agreed to share equally in the gas volume. [More...]

May 21

The Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan agree to a series of Kashmir-specific CBMs, including a triple-entry permit to facilitate crossing the Line of Control. [More...] The two ministers also agree to provide consular access to prisoners in each others' countries. [More...]

May 25

Pakistan's top rock band, Junoon, was allowed by the Indian government to perform at Srinagar in the biggest musical event in the disputed valley in decades. [More...]

June 24

India and Pakistan, meeting under the aegis of the Joint Anti-Terror Mechanism, agreed to exchange information to prevent terrorism and violent attacks. [More...]

September 25

Pakistani President Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Singh formally announced the opening of several trade routes between the two countries. The Wagah-Atari road link and the Khokrapar-Munnabao rail link will both be opened to trade, as will the cross-LoC Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot roads. [More...]

October 9

A delegation of business leaders from Pakistan-administered Kashmir visits the Indian-controlled side to discussed cross-LoC trade. [More...]

October 21

Trade across the Line of Control commences as the first trucks cross the line that divides Kashmir. Trade is limited to 21 items, and can take place on two days each week. [More...]

October 22

A second trade route across the Line of Control is opened. The route connects the cities of Rawalkot and Poonch. [More...]

November 25

Pakistan frees 101 Indian prisoners, including 99 fishermen, in advance of a meeting in Islamabad between the Home Minister of India and the Federal Interior Secretary of Pakistan. [More...]

November 25

At the fifth round of home secretary-level talks, Pakistan and India agree to enhance cooperation between their civilian investigation and security agencies to deal with several cross-border issues. [More...]

December 27

In the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks by Islamic extremists that result in over 180 fatalities, the Indian and Pakistani Directors General of Military Operations make unscheduled use of their hotline to discuss troop movements along their border. One likely topic of discussion was Indian troop rotations to exercise areas near the Pakistan border and small-scale counter-deployments by Pakistani troops. [More...]

2007

February 21

India and Pakistan sign agreement on "Reducing the Risk from Accidents Relating to Nuclear Weapons." [More...]

July 6

India's University of Mumbai and Pakistan's University of Sindh sign a memorandum of understanding for exchange of faculty, scholars, and students. [More...]

August 14

India released 72 Pakistani nationals, including 48 fishermen and 24 prisoners from Indian jails, and Pakistan released 135 Indian nationals, including 100 fishermen and 35 prisoners, from its jails. [More...]

August 16

India released and repatriated 16 Pakistani militants from eight jails in Jammu and Kashmir. [More...]

October 1

The first overland truck route between India and Pakistan is opened at the Wagah border crossing. [More...]

October 19

Pakistan and India hold the Fifth Round of talks to review nuclear and missile related CBMs as part of the Composite Dialogue process. The second round of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism (JATM) was held the following week. [More...]

2006

January 1

India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities. [More...]

President Musharraf and Prime Minister Singh agree to "put in place an India-Pakistan anti-terrorism institutional mechanism to identify and implement counter-terrorism initiatives and investigations." [Joint Statement] [More...]

December 15

India and Pakistan sign a revised shipping protocol that removes restrictions in place since 1975. The protocol allows lifting of third country cargo by Indian and Pakistani vessels from each other's ports and it also lifted the restriction that the cargo destined for the other country could be carried only by an Indian or Pakistani vessel. [More...]

2005

January 1

Both countries exchange lists of nuclear installations and facilities. [More...]

Pakistan's cricket team travels to India for the first time in six years. [More...]

April 7

First bus service from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad is flagged off by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi. [More...]

May 10

Expert level meeting in Rawalpindi held on the establishment of a communication link between Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and Indian Coast Guard. Both sides resolve outstanding issues in a Memorandum of Understanding. [More...]

August 5-6

Talks on nuclear confidence building measures commence between high level Indian and Pakistani experts. [More...]

Agreement reached on the establishment of hot line between the two their maritime security agencies to facilitate early exchange of information regarding apprehended fishermen who inadvertently stray into the other side's territorial waters. [More...]

First flag meeting between Indian and Pakistani army units in three years takes place in Chorbat La sector in India. [More...]

February

India and Pakistan agree on a five-point agenda to initiate dialogue process. [More...]

March 10-April18

Indian cricket team travels to Pakistan for a historic cricket series, the first at a non-neutral site since 1989. [More...]

June 15-16

Meeting of narcotics officials in Islamabad where both parties agree to share information and adopt a coordinated strategy to prevent drug trafficking and smuggling between the two countries. [More...]

June 19-20

Delegations from Pakistan and India convene in New Delhi to hold expert-level talks on nuclear CBMs [Joint Statement...]

June 20-21

Foreign Ministers of both countries meet at the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) meeting in China where they reaffirm their intention to open both countries' consulates in Karachi and Bombay. [More...]

June 26-27

Meeting of Foreign Secretaries in New Delhi when they discuss dialogue on Peace and Security and Jammu and Kashmir. [More...]

June 29-July 2

Foreign Ministers of both countries meet at the ASEAN Regional forum in Jakarta where Pakistan is formally accepted as a member of the ARF after India drops its objections. [More...]

July 20-21

Foreign Ministers of both countries meet at the SAARC Council of Ministers meeting in Islamabad. [More...]

August 9

Both countries carry out an exchange of six prisoners of war at the Wagah border post. [More...]

August 11-12

Meeting of commerce secretaries in Islamabad to discuss dialogue on economic and commercial cooperation. Both sides agree to promote bilateral trade ties and enhance cooperation in various sectors. [More...]